In a shocking incident off the coast of Cadiz, Spain, people smugglers were caught on camera pushing migrants into treacherous waters and speeding away, leaving four North African youngsters to drown. The harrowing incident occurred near Sancti Petri, as a group of migrants was forced into the choppy currents by a gang on a high-powered semi-rigid Zodiac boat, typically used by drug smugglers.

According to survivors, the smugglers used threats and intimidation, brandishing knives and guns to coerce the migrants into jumping into the freezing water. Witnesses reported that the victims, believed to be Moroccan nationals, faced an arduous swim to safety after being abandoned by the heartless smugglers.

Fortunately, workers from the Spanish Good Samaritans organization arrived promptly, rescuing the migrants from the perilous waters. The stranded individuals were pulled onto a small boat, some of them semi-conscious and face-down in the water.

An eyewitness described the terrifying ordeal, recounting how one survivor claimed the smugglers had threatened him at gunpoint, forcing him to leap into the water. The traumatic experience left a lasting mark on the witness, who emphasized the urgency of addressing the issue of human smuggling.

Tragically, prior to this incident, another group had already been left to their fate off Camposoto Beach, where four young migrants, unable to swim, drowned. The callous actions of the smugglers highlight the dangers faced by those seeking a better life, and the urgent need for intervention and protection for vulnerable migrants.

The survivors from both incidents were transported to a hospital in Puerto Real near Cadiz, with three of them suffering from hypothermia. Law enforcement authorities are actively searching for the people smugglers responsible for these heinous acts, though their identities and nationalities remain unknown.

While Cadiz is not a common migration destination from the Maghreb region, Spain continues to be a main entry point for migrants into Europe, particularly through the western Mediterranean. Departing from Morocco and Algeria, over 13,000 migrants have arrived in Spain between January 1 and November 15, representing an 11.5% increase compared to the same period last year, according to the latest figures from the Spanish interior ministry.

Frontex, the European agency responsible for border control, reports that Moroccans make up nearly half of the migrants taking this particular migration route. As the authorities investigate this shocking incident, there is a pressing need for stronger surveillance and measures to combat human smuggling in Spanish waters, ensuring the safety and protection of those seeking refuge and a better future.